Pompeo Wants ’Thorough’ Saudi Probe of Journalist’s Disappearance

Local Editor

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Monday for a thorough and open probe by Saudi Arabia into the disappearance of Riyadh critic, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, after US President Donald Trump voiced concern for him.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and US resident, had written articles critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

On the eve of Khashoggi's planned marriage to a Turkish woman, he entered the consulate on Oct. 2 and has not been seen since.

Turkish officials allege that he was murdered inside the consulate. Riyadh denies that and claims he left the compound on his own.

"We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," Pompeo said in a statement.

State Department senior officials have spoken with Saudi Arabia through diplomatic channels about the matter, he explained.

Pompeo's statement came after Trump earlier Monday told reporters at the White House: "I am concerned. I don't like hearing about it. Hopefully that will sort itself out."

"Right now, nobody knows anything about it. There are some pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it," he added.

The issue threatens to strain the close relationship Prince Mohammad has forged with the Trump administration, which until now has been willing to turn a blind eye to Saudi human rights violations in Yemen, where it leads a brutal military campaign that has killed thousands of civilians.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team